Creating a captivating resume that sparkles bright enough to catch an employer's attention is an art on its own terms.

With the ramp up pressure kids experience at school and the need to sign up to too many extracurricular activities, it’s no surprise how the number of teens employed have been declining over the past decades. There are many benefits (and risks) of adolescent employment. The decision to allow your teen to have an after school job should be a well thought-out family decision based on how well they can manage responsibilities, time management and money.

But if your teen is ready to take the plunge the first thing they need to figure out is how to build a resume that stands out even if they don’t have any work experience.

But where to start? How do can you create a snapshot of your ambitions, show your strengths and interests and captive an employers attention? This is the part Canvas comes in and rescues the day. If you are unfamiliar Canvas, this is a graphic-design t…

How To Have a Fun & Memorable Family Outing For Free (or Almost Free) in Gwinnett County

Gwinnett
County is a sprawling metropolis with an ethnically and culturally diverse population. A high influx of families are choosing to relocate to Gwinnett due to the
county's excellent school system, thriving business,
cultural, and recreational opportunities offered. I often get
asked where can families take their kids for fun that doesn't
cost a fortune. To facilitate this information I have gathered
the top 5 things you can do free (or almost free) for a fun and memorable family
outing.

1.
Free Bowling, Skating and Tokens for Games:

Sparkles of Gwinnettis offering
a great deal for the summer to help your kids stay happy and
healthy. They lowered the price of the skates and admission during
the summer. Also, every Tuesday night during the months on June and
July, they are offering free admission to families. Sparkles of
Gwinnett is popular place to skate, play laser tag, and celebrate
birthdays.

Kids Bowl For Free at Lawrenceville's Stars and Strikes.
This is a nationwide initiative that allows selected bowling centers
and schools around the country to give back to the community by
providing a safe, secure, and fun way for kids to spend time this
summer. Children whose age does not exceed a limit by a
participating bowling center are eligible to register for 2 free
games a day, all summer long, courtesy of the participating bowling
centers along with the schools and organizations. The trick is that
you must register online so you can get your passes by email.

Malibu Gran Prix Norcross:
You’ll receive a free Unlimited 4 Hour Play Pass good for all the
attractions – go karts, bumper boats, miniature golf, and more.
Club members receive the special privilege of using this offer ANY
single day during the month of their birthday.If
you sign up during the month of your Birthday you will receive your
birthday coupon within 48 hours.
Have a good student?Celebrate
your good grades with them! Good
students deserve a great deal. Just bring your most recent report
card for FREE tokens!

- 3
tokens for each "A" - 2
tokens for each "B"

Restrictions: Maximum
of 20 tokens per child. Must use original report card and bring
within 6 weeks from issue date.
If you are unfamiliar with this attraction, Malibu Grand prix is a
super fun place with miniature golf, go-karts, game room, batting
cages, bumper boats and a brand new water play play called
“Buccaneers Cove”.

2.
Visit Stone Mountain Park For Free:

For
most of the park attractions you need to buy an admission ticket,
however, if buy a vehicle entry ticket and you can access the park
public picnic areas, hiking and nature trails, children's playground,
walk-up trail, Quarry Exhibit, the Confederate Hall Historical &
Environmental Education Center and the Lasershow Spectacular (select
nights). Bicycles and pedestrians may enter at no charge.

3.
City Festivals and Community Events:

One
of the things I enjoy the most about living in Gwinnett is the amount
of festivals, free concerts and community events that happen all
around the year.

I
think the trick is to go to the city's website and subscribe to their
monthly newsletter so you know what's going on. Also follow your city
facebook page and make sure you enable notifications so you don't
miss anything. Some of my favorite festivals and community events
are:

4.
Free Concerts, Movies Under The Stars, and Kids activities at Simon
Malls:

Children:
Here's a tip if you are new to the area. If you have small children
you must have a membership for Simon Malls Kiddigits Club. The
Simon Kidgits Club® offers free fun activities, savings and
freebies throughout the year for everyone to participate. However,
members
enjoy savings from retailers, free goodies at events, a T-shirt when
you sign-up and other benefits throughout the year at participating
Kidgits Club Malls. The membership is not
free, but it is quite cheap. For $5 dollars, not only you get tons
of perks but your kids can participate in VIP events.

Teens:
If you have teens, keep an eye to the
month of August, which is the month TEEN
VOGUE partners with Simon
Malls to
celebrate Back-to-School Saturdays with events across the country
featuring musical performances, fashion shows, celebrity appearances
and more! Last August, Mall
Of Georgia had Cody Simpsom perform and sign autographs.

Family
Friendly:
Movies Under The Stars! The
sights and sounds of FREE outdoor family entertainment are set to
return to Mall of Georgia! The shopping center’s seventh annual
Movies Under The Stars summer series, presented by AutoNation Mall
of Georgia, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and the Gwinnett
Braves, is back beginning Saturday, May 23. Local families and
friends are invited to meet on the lawn at the Village Amphitheatre
every Saturday evening through July 25 to enjoy a complimentary
cinema and concert showcase.During
each event, local bands take the stage at The Village Pavilion from
6:30 – 8:30 p.m. and the feature film shines on a 35-foot big
screen at The Village Amphitheatre starting at dusk around 9 p.m.
Guests can also enjoy a variety of fun games, jump time in bounce
houses and summer snack concessions, including Skip’s Hawaiian
Shaved Ice, popcorn, cotton candy and more. As always, shoppers are
encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs.With
family flicks like “Into the Woods” and “Big Hero Six” and
rockin’ music from The Woody’s and Brent Gafford Band on the
lineup, this entertainment series is the perfect way to spend summer
nights with family and friends!The
music / movie schedule is as follows:·
May 23: Dave Boyd and the Smugglers / “The Book of Life” ·
May 30: Joe Hall Band / “The Imitation Game” (rated PG-13)·
June 6: Line 6 / “Into the Woods” ·
June 13: The Woody’s / “Maleficent”·
June 20: Pippy Thomas / “X-Men Days of Future Past” (rated
PG-13) ·
June 27: Brent Gafford Band / “The Box Trolls” ·
July 4: Mall of Georgia’s 13th Annual Star Spangled Fourth evento
Kids Zone opens for family fun: 5 p.m.o
Joe Hall Band: 5 – 7 p.m.o
The Woody’s: 7:30 – 9:30 p.m.o
Singing of the National Anthem by Mallory Green: 9:30 p.m.o
Gwinnett's grandest fireworks display: 9:35 p.m. o
“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1” (rated PG-13):
Post-fireworks ·
July 11: Brent Gafford Band / “Big Eyes”·
July 18: Fire & The Knife “Dawn of the Planet Apes” (rated
PG-13)·
July 25: Daniel Lee Band / “Big Hero 6”

5.
Pools, Waterslides and Lake Beaches

Let's
face, kids always want to go to the pool during the summer, but did
you know you can still enjoy going to the pool in the off-season.
Many aquatic centers in Gwinnett have temperatured controlled Indoor
leisure pools with zero-depth entry, giant waterslide and water play
structures. Other parks have seasonal large
outdoor areas with water slides, lazy
river and
kids play area. Now, although the entrance is not free, it is dirt
cheap and Gwinnett residents get a reduced admission discount with
their driver's license.

There's
is a “beach” close to Lawrenceville, that is not quite in the
district of Gwinnett county, but it might as well be, that has a
seasonal 260-Acre
lake with a white sand beach, picnic shelters, pavilions, gift shop,
2 boat ramps and children's playground. You can go hiking
and
mountain
biking, play disc
golf, go fishing, boating, rent canoes, kayaks and even pedal boats.
There's also miniature golf, 2 tennis courts, and a basketball
court. What I LOVE about Fort Yargo is that the entrance is free. You
will need to pay a minimum parking fee but it so much worth it. The
lake is not muddy, the water is clear, the sand is white and soft,
water is shallow and the kids love it. You can bring your own BBQ,
and cook while you let the kids build sand castles and play. Fort
Yargo is a National Park and the grounds and facilities are well
maintained. This is the perfect place when you just want to escape
from the hustle and bustle of the city. It is kind of hidden, and not
many people know how awesome this place really is. Once you visited
it you will always come back.

Gwinnett County Insider Tip:

Explore
Gwinnettis
the official travel office of Gwinnett County, Georgia (metro
Atlanta). When you visit their website or subscribe to their weekly
newsletter you can plan your hotels, restaurants, shopping,
attractions & check out all the happenings and events going on.
Every week they list at least 30 different events happening around
the county.

Have a few bucks to spare? May we recommend a family outing to the theatre! Aurora Theatre Children's Playhouse assembles the best children’s performers in the region, bringing them to Gwinnett County in order to give parents and their children a chance to experience their artistry in our amazing facility in downtown Lawrenceville. They feature puppeteers, magicians, storytellers, jugglers and musicians as a part of this series intended for youngsters to have their first theatrical experiences. At about 45 minutes in length, perfect for the young attention span, these lively performances are fun for the whole family. Tickets are only $7.00 for kids and adults, making this attraction extremely affordable for most families.